Power gutter cleaners

ABSTRACT

A portable power gutter cleaner for cleaning conventional gutters normally installed below and along the lower edge of a sloping roof comprising a preferably aluminum frame formed at the rear thereof to accommodate a pair of longitudinally spaced vertically adjustable roof contacting rollers thereon, and formed at the front thereof to accommodate a pair of non-adjustable longitudinally spaced gutter contacting rollers thereon that are preferably provided with laterally spaced edge flanges which ride the outer flange of the gutter during the cleaning thereof. The said gutter contacting rollers raise momentarily when passing over conventional gutter securing spikes generally employed at selected intervals to secure the gutter to the building structure below the lower edge of the sloping roof. The frame of the portable power gutter cleaner has an electric motor mounted at the top thereof which drives a rotating cleaner element having a plurality of relatively stiff yet pliable cleaner arms which beat the inside of the gutter as the gutter cleaner is manually moved along a gutter. This beater action knocks loose and drives accumulations of dirt, dried or wet leaves, twigs and other accumulated refuse from the gutter. The novel power gutter cleaner is manipulated manually along the gutter to be cleaned either from a ladder or from the ground, and is constructed to ride over the transverse gutter-securing spikes generally employed to secure the gutter to the house or other structure below the lower edge of the sloping edge of the roof.

United States Patent [1 1 Wilson [451 Aug. 14, 1973 POWER GUTIERCLEANERS [76] Inventor: Jimmie L. Wibon, 19967 Monte Vista, Detroit,Mich. 48221 [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 300,427

[52] US. Cl. 15/92, 15/23 [51] Int. Cl. .4 A46b 13/02 [58] Field ofSearch 15/92, 89, 104.3,

15/22 R, 23, 24; 56/D1G. 10; 401/48, 193; 118/207 [56] References Citedv UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,505,576 4/1950 Reitan 15/92 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 636,820 4/1928 France [5/93 R 39,251 1l/l956 Poland 15/23Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Everett G. Wright [57]ABSTRACT A portable power gutter cleaner for cleaning conventionalgutters normally installed below and along the lower edge of a slopingroof comprising a preferably aluminum frame formed at the rear thereofto accom- The frame of the portable power gutter cleaner has an electricmotor mounted at the top thereof which drives a rotating cleaner elementhaving a plurality of relatively stiff yet pliable cleaner arms whichbeat the inside of the gutter as the gutter cleaner is manually movedalong a gutter. This beater action knocks loose and drives accumulationsof dirt, dried or wet leaves, twigs and other accumulated refuse fromthe gutter.

The novel power gutter cleaner is manipulated manually along the gutterto be cleaned either from a ladder or from the ground, and isconstructed to ride over the transverse gutter-securing spikes generallyemployed to secure the gutter to the house or other structure below thelower edge of the sloping edge of the roof.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PAIENIED 1 4975 SHEET 1 0F 4 1 POWER GUTTERCLEANERS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to thedrawings wherein like reference characters refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, in which;

FIG. l-A is an elevational view showing a power gutter cleaner of theinvention disposed in operational position on a gutter ready for manualmanipulation therealong;

FIG. I is an enlarged front elevational view of the power guttercleaner;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the power gutter cleaner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3showing the left hand guide washer dropped by gravity into its guideposition normally assumed, and the right hand guide washer temporarilyraised to a position wherein it passes over a conventional guttersecuring spike;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the left handguide washer in its normal position as viewed in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the right handguide washer in its raised position passing over a gutter securing spikeas viewed in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT from the outer lower end portions1100 of the deep wide front panel 110 of the wheeled carriage 11. Thesaid front wheels' 12 are each preferably provided with a centrallygrooved rubber tire 120 which rides the outer top flange 140 of aconventional gutter 14 while being cleaned by the power gutter cleaner10. An electric motor 15 is mounted on the narrow top panel 111, I

and a suitable motor cover element 16 is provided in spaced relationshipthereover. A hand grip 17 for carrying the power gutter cleaner 10 isdisposed in transversespaced relationship over the motor cover element16, and is connected to the upper ends of suitable metal straps 1.8which in turn are secured to the narrow top panel 111 of the invertedU-shaped carriage II.

A pair of relatively closely spaced rear wheels 19 are mounted oncantilever shafts 20 extending rearwardly from the rear panel 112 of theinverted U-shaped carriage 11, and are each formed with a suitablerubber tire 190 which rides on a sloping roof 2] extending rearwardlyupwardly from and longitudinally parallel to the conventional gutter 14.The said rear wheels 19 are adapted to be raised or lowered by movingthe cantilever shafts 20 to selected vertically spaced apertures 1120provided in the rear panel 112 of the inverted U shaped carriage 11whereby to level or substantially level the top panel lllthereof withrespect to the top of the gutter 14.

A cleaner element 22 having a central hub 220 is rotatably mounted on acentral shaft 221 supported at one end on the front panel of theinverted U- shaped carriage l1 and at its other end on a vertical arm 23fixed to and depending from the bottom of the top panel 111 of the saidcarriage 1]. Fixed to the central hub 220 of the cleaner element 22 is apulley 2200 belt driven by a belt 220] disposed over the driven pulley2200 of the cleaner element 22 and over the drive pulley 1500 mounted onthe motor shaft 150 of the electric motor 15. Extending radially fromthe central hub 220 of the cleaner element 22 are a plurality,preferably three, relatively stiff yet pliable cleaner or beater arms222 which rotate at a relatively high speed and beat the inside of thegutter 14 whereby to loosen and remove accumulations of dried or wetleaves, dirt, twigs and other accumulated refuse from the gutter.Although not shown in detail, it is obvious that the cleaner or beaterarms222 may be longitudinally split at their outer ends to. permit thesaid beater arms to spread and cover the full .width of the gutter andthe refuse therein when rotated at relatively high speeds.

A horizontal guide roller'25 is preferably mounted in dependingrelationship from each of two inwardly disposed tabs 110] formed at thebottom of the outer end portions 1100 of the front panel 110. Thethickness of the said guide rollers 25 is such that they will alwaysroll in contact with the outer top flange of a gutter 14 both when theadjacent front wheel 12 is riding on the top flange 140 of aconventional gutter l4 and when either one of the widely spaced frontwheels 12 of the front panel 110 rides over the gutter securing spikes14] generally employed at selected intervals along the outer top flange140 of a conventional gutter 14 to secure the said gutter 14 to thebuilding structure 26 behind the gutter 14.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 5 through 9 inclusive, guide washermeans 30 are preferably carried by the front panel 110 adjacent eachwidely spaced front wheel 12. Each guide washer means 30 preferablyconsists of three washers 31, 32 and 33 mounted on a stub shaft 34extending inwardly of and supported by the said front panel 110. Aspring anchor ring 35 sprung in a groove 36 formed in the inner end 340of the stub shaft 34 maintains the washers 31, 32 and 33 freely thereon.The said washers. 31, 32 and 33 normally assume the position shown inFIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 7 during normal manual movement of the power guttercleaner 10 along a conventional gutter 14.

However, when a guide washer means 30 momentarily rides over a guttersecuring spike 141, the large central washer 32 of the three washers 31,32 and 33 of the guide washer means 30 is raised by the gutter securingspike 141 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the power gutter cleaner 10travels smoothly past the gutter securing spikes I41 responsive toeither pushing or pulling the power gutter cleaner 10 along the gutter14. The guide washer means 30 assures that the power gutter cleaner l0maintains itself in its proper operating position over the gutters beingcleaned thereby.

Although not shown in detail, electric current is supplied to afractional h.p. electric motor 15 through a suitable electric lineextending from a source of eurrent, preferably at ground level, whichruns up the operating pole 40 to the electric motor 15. Switch means,also not shown, obviously would be provided at the lower end of theoperating pole 40 to turn the current supply to the motor 15 ON or OFFas required. The upper end of the operating pole 40 is preferablyremovably secured by means of a universal joint or the like to thecentral front panel of the inverted U-shaped carriage 11.

Although only a single embodiment ofa power gutter cleaner 10 of theinvention has been disclosed and described in detail, it is obvious thatmany changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and detail ofthe various elements of the invention, all without departing from thespirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A power gutter cleaner for removing dirt, leaves, twigs and othercumulated refuse from conventional gutters in-stalled on a buildingstructure below the lower edge of a sloping roof comprising a. aninverted Ushaped carriage having a deep wide front panel, and relativelynarrow top and rear panels,

b. a pair of widely spaced front wheels mounted on said front panelformed to ride the outer top flange of a conventional gutter, anelectric motor mounted on said narrow top panel, and a pair ofrelatively closely spaced rear wheels mounted on said rear panel formedto ride on a sloping roof parallel to and spaced rearwardly of saidgutter,

c. said rear wheels being adjustable vertically to accommodate the powergutter cleaner for use on gutters along roofs of different slopes,

d. a cleaner element including a central hub having a plurality ofrelatively stiff yet pliable cleaner arms extending radially therefrominto the gutter to be cleaned, said cleaner element being rotatablymounted centrally of and inwardly from said front panel and suspendedfrom said top panel, and belt driven by said electric motor,

e. horizontal guide roller means depending from the bottom of the endportions of the front panel of said U-shaped carriage which rollhorizontally along the outside of the upper front flange of a gutterbeing cleaned, guide washer means carried by the front panel of saidU-shaped carriage which ride vertically along the inside of the upperfront flange of the gutter being cleaned; a portion of said guide washermeans being adapted to rise and pass over conventional gutter securingspikes generally employed at selected intervals to secure the gutter tothe building structure below the edge of the sloping roof thereof, and

g. means connected to the front panel of said U- shaped carriagepermitting the power gutter cleaner to be manually moved along a gutterbeing cleaned thereby.

2. A power gutter cleaner for removing dirt, leaves and other refusefrom conventional gutters having a continuous outer flange installed ona building structure below the lower edge of a sloping roof thereof 4comprising a. an inverted U-shaped carriage having a deep wide frontpanel, and relatively narrow top and rear panels,

b. a pair of widely spaced front wheels mounted on said front panelfonned to ride the top of said continuous outer flange of saidconventional gutter, and a pair of relatively closely spaced rear wheelsmounted on said rear panel at a selected elevation whereby to permitsaid inverted U-shaped carriage to be moved manually along said gutterand said sloping roof with said front and rear panels of said carriagedisposed substantially vertically and the top panel thereof disposedsubstantially horizontally,

c. a motor driven cleaner element including a rotating central hubhaving a plurality of evenly spaced relatively stiff yet pliable cleanerarms extending radially therefrom mounted on said carriage with saidcleaner arms disposed over and extending into said gutter,

d. means carried by the front panel of said inverted U-shaped carriageengaging the outer front flange of said gutter maintaining the frontwheels of said power gutter cleaner laterally on said gutter when inuse, and

e. an operating pole means connected to the front panel of said invertedU-shaped carriage permitting said power gutter cleaner to be manuallymoved thereby along said gutter during the cleaning thereof.

3. A power gutter cleaner as claimed in claim 2 wherein a. the frontwheels of said power cleaner are circumferentially grooved to ride alongthe outer top flange of a conventional gutter while being cleaned.

4. A power gutter cleaner as claimed in claim 2 wherein a. a horizontalguide roller is rotatably mounted in depending relationship from aninwardly extending tab formed at each of the outer ends of said frontpanel,

b. said guide roller being of sufficient thickness to constantlymaintain contact with the outer flange of said gutter as the guttercleaner is manually guided therealong.

5. A power gutter cleaner as claimed in claim 2 wherein a.longitudinally spaced guide washer means carried by the front panel ofsaid U-shaped carriage are located to ride vertically 'along the insideof the upper front flange of the gutter being cleaned,

b. each said guide washer means comprising a plurality of washerstelescoped over a rearwardly extending stub shaft fixed to said frontpanel, and

c. one of said washers having a central aperture of sufficient size topermit said washer to rise and pass over conventional gutter securingspikes generally employed to secure the gutter to the building structurebelow the outer edge of the sloping roof thereof.

I 1 I 1U I

1. A power gutter cleaner for removing dirt, leaves, twigs and othercumulated refuse from conventional gutters in-stalled on a buildingstructure below the lower edge of a sloping roof comprising a. aninverted U-shaped carriage having a deep wide front panel, andrelatively narrow top and rear panels, b. a pair of widely spaced frontwheels mounted on said front panel formed to ride the outer top flangeof a conventional gutter, an electric motor mounted on said narrow toppanel, and a pair of relatively closely spaced rear wheels mounted onsaid rear panel formed to ride on a sloping roof parallel to and spacedrearwardly of said gutter, c. said rear wheels being adjustablevertically to accommodate the power gutter cleaner for use on guttersalong roofs of different slopes, d. a cleaner element including acentral hub having a plurality of relatively stiff yet pliable cleanerarms extending radially therefrom into the gutter to be cleaned, saidcleaner element being rotatably mounted centrally of and inwardly fromsaid front panel and suspended from said top panel, and belt driven bysaid electric motor, e. horizontal guide roller means depending from thebottom of the end portions of the front panel of said U-shaped carriagewhich roll horizontally along the outside of the upper front flange of agutter being cleaned, f. guide washer means carried by the front panelof said Ushaped carriage which ride vertically along the inside of theupper front flange of the gutter being cleaned; a portion of said guidewasher means being adapted to rise and pass over conventional guttersecuring spikes generally employed at selected intervals to secure thegutter to the building structure below the edge of the sloping roofthereof, and g. means connected to the front panel of said U-shapedcarriage permitting the power gutter cleaner to be manually moved alonga gutter being cleaned thereby.
 2. A power gutter cleaner for removingdirt, leaves and other refuse from conventional gutters having acontinuous outer flange installed on a building structure below thelower edge of a sloping roof thereof comprising a. an inverted U-shapedcarriage having a deep wide front panel, and relatively narrow top andrear panels, b. a pair of widely spaced front wheels mounted on saidfront panel formed to ride the top of said continuous outer flange ofsaid conventional gutter, and a pair of relatively closely spaced rearwheels mounted on said rear panel at a selected elevation whereby topermit said inverted U-shaped carriage to be moved manually along saidgutter and said sloping roof with said front and rear panels of saidcarriage disposed substantially vertically and the top panel thereofdisposed substantially horizontally, c. a motor driven cleaner elementincluding a rotating central hub having a plurality of evenly spacedrelatively stiff yet pliable cleaner arms extending radially therefrommounted on said carriage with said cleaner arms disposed over andextending into said gutter, d. means carried by the front panel of saidinverted U-shaped carriage engaging the outer front flange of saidgutter maintaining the front wheels of said power gutter cleanerlaterally on said gutter when in use, and e. an operating pole meansconnected to the front panel of said inverted U-shaped carriagepermitting said power gutter cleaner to be manually moved thereby alongsaid gutter during the cleaning thereof.
 3. A power gutter cleaner asclaimed in claim 2 wherein a. the front wheels of said power cleaner arecircumferentially grooved to ride along the outer top flange of aconventional gutter while being cleaned.
 4. A power gutter cleaner asclaimed in claim 2 wherein a. a horizontal guide roller is rotatablymounted in depending relationship from an inwardly extending tab formedat each of the outer ends of said front panel, b. said guide rollerbeing of sufficient thickness to constantly maintain contact with theouter flange of said gutter as the gutter cleaner is manually guidedtherealong.
 5. A power gutter cleaner as claimed in claim 2 wherein a.longitudinally spaced guide washer means carried by the front panel ofsaid U-shaped carriage are located to ride vertically along the insideof the upper front flange of the gutter being cleaned, b. each saidguide washer means comprising a plurality of washers telescoped over arearwardly extending stub shaft fixed to said front panel, and c. one ofsaid washers having a central aperture of sufficient size to permit saidwasher to rise and pass over conventional gutter securing spikesgenerally employed to secure the gutter to the building structure belowthe outer edge of the sloping roof thereof.